Plámás and the Art of Flattery ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 92

There’s times when Irish words just fly into my head. I was taking a breather yesterday from some rather mundane activities ~ the kind I read once that heroines in romantic-fiction never have to bother about ~ overdue library books, a trail of ashes leading from the fire to the backdoor, hairbrush falling down the loo ….. No doubt you could add to the list.

Anyway, for much-needed ‘diversion,’ I was perusing my late father’s Treasury of Humorous Quotations and came on this one under the heading of Flattery from Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Baloney is the unvarnished lie laid on so thick you hate it. Blarney is flattery laid on so thin you love it.

Plámás was the only word I could think of arising from all this as it seems to sit very comfortably between the two ‘Bs.’

Google got into a bit of bother with ‘Plámás’ and had me reading all about ‘Plasma’ for a while.

Well, Plámás , a Plámáser and Plámásing are indeed about the Art of Flattery ~ Irish-style. We’re not talking ‘blarney’ here. We’re talking about the guy ~ it seems to be men who are the plámásers ~ who are masters at smathering one with ‘love’ and ‘pet’ and ‘aren’t you looking well today’ (when you’re like a dogs dinner) and manage to get you to buy something that you didn’t really want or need all because you were momentarily distracted by the plámás.

I have a secret admiration for Plámásers because they catch me every single time. I don’t think there is an ounce of deliberateness involved. I really believe this art is passed on in the Irish genes!

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Author: socialbridge

I am a sociologist and writer from Ireland. I have worked as a social researcher for 30 years and have had a lifelong passion for writing.
My main research interests relate to health care and I love to write both non-fiction and poetry.
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4 thoughts on “Plámás and the Art of Flattery ~ Gatherings from Ireland # 92”

Hi Brendan, great to hear from one who always makes me smile and chuckle!
You’ve suddenly got me wondering about online plámásary. I just wish I could have seen the expression on your face as you were writing your comment. How is it that I can’t get that ad about Sally O’Brien out of my head. Have to say it rarely strays far!